Use of smartphones to aid the teaching of equine ocular fundus examination.
Abstract: Teaching and learning how to perform examination of the ocular fundus is challenging. Smartphones can support to enhance students' confidence and experience. Following an optional year-4 ophthalmoscopy practical using hand-held ophthalmoscopes, students completed a questionnaire using a visual analogue scale (VAS) investigating if students felt smartphone use aided learning and if student's self-assessed confidence in visualising the ocular fundus had improved. VAS scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test (significance: P<0.05). All 30 year-4 students attending the practical participated to the study. Confidence in performing direct ophthalmoscopy significantly increased after the practical. Confidence after the practical was 65.3 (±19.8) per cent compared with before the practical when confidence was 20.1 (±15.6) per cent (P<0.001). The perceived usefulness of traditional teaching was 62.3 (±23.8) per cent. The perceived usefulness of the teaching with the smartphone was 91.1 (±8.6) per cent. While students found both methods useful, they perceived the use of the smartphone to be significantly more useful (P<0.001). Free-text comments on the use of the smartphone were all positive and included 'useful', 'fun' and 'good teaching tool'. This study shows that students positively received the use of the smartphone, which can be a useful tool to teach the equine ocular examination to undergraduate veterinary students.
© British Veterinary Association 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Publication Date: 2020-03-13 PubMed ID: 32169945DOI: 10.1136/vr.105544Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores how the use of smartphones can enhance teaching and learning of equine ocular fundus examination, with a focus on improving students’ confidence and advancing their practical skills.
Study methodology
- The study was conducted among 30 undergraduate veterinary students in their 4th year.
- These students participated in an optional ophthalmoscopy practical, where they used both traditional methods and smartphones to examine the ocular fundus of a horse.
- After the practical session, students completed a questionnaire using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate whether smartphone use supported their learning process and boosted their confidence in visualising the ocular fundus.
- The students’ VAS scores were then analysed and compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. This statistical test was used to determine if the difference in scores was significant.
Findings of the study
- The research showed a significant increase in students’ confidence in performing direct ophthalmoscopy after the practical session. Their confidence score rose from 20.1% before the session to 65.3% after.
- The usefulness score of traditional teaching methods was recorded at 62.3%, whereas the score for teaching with the use of a smartphone was much higher at 91.1%. Consequently, the students found the use of smartphones for teaching to be more useful, and this difference was statistically significant.
- Additional comments noted by the students about the use of smartphones included terms like ‘useful’, ‘fun’, and ‘good teaching tool’, indicating an overall positive reception of this teaching medium.
Conclusion of the research
- The study concluded that the use of smartphones has been perceived positively by the students and can be a useful tool in teaching the equine ocular examination to undergraduate veterinary students.
- By employing technology like smartphones in teaching complex practical skills, educators can enhance students’ experience, impart confidence in conducting the procedure, and offer a more engaging and effective learning platform.
Cite This Article
APA
Shipman E, Burford JH, Bowen M, Duz M.
(2020).
Use of smartphones to aid the teaching of equine ocular fundus examination.
Vet Rec, 186(16), 532.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105544 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK.
- Oakham Veterinary Hospital, Oakham, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK.
- Oakham Veterinary Hospital, Oakham, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK Marco.Duz@nottingham.ac.uk.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Education, Veterinary / methods
- Fundus Oculi
- Horses
- Humans
- Learning
- Physical Examination / veterinary
- Self Efficacy
- Smartphone
- Students, Medical / psychology
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing interests: None declared.
Citations
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